Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/09/2005 - Joint with CC

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Seasonal Maintenance Early Spring Maintenance: · Shouldering Shouldering is a catch-all phrase that describes restoration of the vegetative edges along the hard- surfaced trail. In the spring tlfis may entail driving the trails with a load of topsoil in a small dump truck. This inspection process allows the operator to add soil and seed to any areas that have washed out during the spring thaw. The other likely need may be to pick up sod that may have been sheered off by winter plowing of trails, and then reseeding. Other activity during the inspection would be removing any stakes set to delineate trails for plowing, pic 'king up any trash or debris along the trails and assessing the sweeping and other spring task needs. · Sweeping. This task is often required on trails adjacent to arterial roads due to salt sand being 'thrown up' onto the trail from street plowing. Other debris may accumulate during the period leading up to spring use of the trails such as leaves or litter that is released by the snowmelt. In the past it xvas sometimes acceptable to use a 'kicker' broom mounted on a tractor to sxveep the loose material from the trail surface on to or in the adjoining vegetation. This is still the preferred method for areas like the Lake Itasca Trail wherein most of the trail is in a wooded environment or the corridor is bordered by natural vegetation. Tr,'fils in non-urban settings are also less likely to have small items of litter. The above technique is not acceptable for urban settings where any debris swept aside ~vould land on boulevards or private lawns. These same areas are also more likely to have increased levels of xvinter sanding which can contribute to different and negative conditions if the above method is employed. One being high levels of sodium (salt) in the soil causing a decline in turf and tree vigor. '['he other fact is that this same debts, over time will cause the shoulders of the trail to become higher than the bituminous surface which creates winter plowing and mowing concerns - and can trap water. Standing water can create an ice hazard, and gready reduces pavement life. Generally, trails are not designed to s~vept by a traditional street sweeper due to lateral, vertical and weight lhnitafions. For this reason a specialized attachment for existing city equipment is rented, that sxveeps and 'picks up' the material, which is then dumped in a truck or piled for subsequent recovery. The alterafive is to contract for this service, which would entail more administrative dine, but less in-house labor. The cost of 'renting versus contracting will continue to be evaluated each year. At some point this analysis may suggest that the city should own a specialized sweeper or attachment. This decision will likely be influenced by litter and sand removal needs xvithin the 'lbwn Center site.